The Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times), and other news media have carried reports about a Taiwanese political talk show being “shadowed” by “red” (Chinese communist) media.
The reports say that a correspondent of China’s state-run Xinhua news agency in Taiwan sat in the TV studio and monitored the production of the program.
They say that Xinhua had a significant influence on the TV station’s political talk show, including the themes and scenarios of discussions, and that the guests and pundits invited to the program were picked or vetted by the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the Chinese State Council.
The National Communications Commission (NCC) quickly responded to these reports by saying that it was investigating which TV station was involved, and that if the station is found to have contravened the regulations, it would be fined up to NT$2 million (US$61,482) and be taken off the air.
If the reports are true, this is a major case of interference in Taiwan’s press. It would mean the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is reaching into Taiwanese political talk shows to conduct brainwashing and promote unification by means of “using Taiwanese to control Taiwanese.”
Taiwan, as a democratic country, has the characteristics of diversity and openness. However, a reporter of Xinhua directing a Taiwanese political talk show means that the media of democratic Taiwan is being infiltrated by authoritarian China.
Authoritarian political systems have always regarded the media as propaganda tools. Xinhua is directly subordinate to the CCP’s Publicity Department, meaning that it takes its orders from the party.
In the past, the TAO had offered business opportunities to Taiwanese TV stations in the hope of inducing them to produce political talk shows that critique the Democratic Progressive Party and other “pan-green” forces.
Up until now, all such dealings have been conducted overseas, but now a Chinese reporter is reported to have taken part in the production and broadcast of a talk show in Taiwan.
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said that this case shows the importance of the NCC, and he called on the Legislative Yuan to pass a proposal that would give the commission the power to approve broadcasters’ personnel.
This latest incident should be promptly investigated and strictly dealt with, using the state’s authority to prevent Taiwan’s hard-won press freedom from being destroyed by authoritarian China’s infiltration.
Knight Chang is a political worker.
Translated by Julian Clegg
Many foreigners, particularly Germans, are struck by the efficiency of Taiwan’s administration in routine matters. Driver’s licenses, household registrations and similar procedures are handled swiftly, often decided on the spot, and occasionally even accompanied by preferential treatment. However, this efficiency does not extend to all areas of government. Any foreigner with long-term residency in Taiwan — just like any Taiwanese — would have encountered the opposite: agencies, most notably the police, refusing to accept complaints and sending applicants away at the counter without consideration. This kind of behavior, although less common in other agencies, still occurs far too often. Two cases
In a summer of intense political maneuvering, Taiwanese, whose democratic vibrancy is a constant rebuke to Beijing’s authoritarianism, delivered a powerful verdict not on China, but on their own political leaders. Two high-profile recall campaigns, driven by the ruling party against its opposition, collapsed in failure. It was a clear signal that after months of bitter confrontation, the Taiwanese public is demanding a shift from perpetual campaign mode to the hard work of governing. For Washington and other world capitals, this is more than a distant political drama. The stability of Taiwan is vital, as it serves as a key player
Yesterday’s recall and referendum votes garnered mixed results for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). All seven of the KMT lawmakers up for a recall survived the vote, and by a convincing margin of, on average, 35 percent agreeing versus 65 percent disagreeing. However, the referendum sponsored by the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on restarting the operation of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County failed. Despite three times more “yes” votes than “no,” voter turnout fell short of the threshold. The nation needs energy stability, especially with the complex international security situation and significant challenges regarding
Most countries are commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with condemnations of militarism and imperialism, and commemoration of the global catastrophe wrought by the war. On the other hand, China is to hold a military parade. According to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, Beijing is conducting the military parade in Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3 to “mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.” However, during World War II, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had not yet been established. It
RSS